Sports: Cascade Women Defeat UBC Okanagan 73-58

The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat, 73-58, to improve their Canada West regular season record to 14-3. The Cascades, ranked 4th in the CIS top ten poll, are in first place in the Pacific Division, one game ahead of UBC, 13-4 and TRU 14-5. The UBC Okanagan Heat record falls to 5-13.

The Cascades came out strong tonight and battle a feisty UBC Okanagan Heat team that gave the Cascades all they could handle in the first half. UFV did lead by five after first quarter, holding the Heat to 12 first quarter points. UBC Okanagan made it a close game in the second quarter holding the high powered Cascades offense to 17 points to go into the break trailing UFV by three points. UFV shot 39 percent from the floor in the first half.

The second half belonged to the more experienced Cascades as they held the Heat to 9 third quarters points while scoring 22 and opening up a double digit lead of 16 points. The Cascades continued to keep the Heat in check down the stretch as they won their first ever Canada West regular season basketball game in Kelowna by 15 points. The Cascades forced UBC Okanagan to commit 31 turnovers in the game. UFV shot 47 percent in the second half from the floor.

Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC led UFV with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC added 14 points and Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC chipped in with 10 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. The Cascades recorded 47 total rebounds including 29 defensive boards.

“Got a gritty win against a feisty UBC Okanagan team. They shot the three ball well and we just could not put them away. Full credit to them. We’ll need to be better if we want a win tomorrow,” commented UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer.

The Cascades and Heat tip off tomorrow night at 5pm in Kelowna, BC.

UFV 17 17 22 17 = 73 (14-3)
UBC O 12 19 9 18 = 58 (5-13)